Liquid carton



Jan. 29, 19 46. 0, p, DowNllglG 2,393,75 8

' LIQUID CARTON 1 I Filed Ju ly a, 1944 Patented Jan. 29, 1946 UNITED STAT ES PATENT OFFICE r LIQUID CARTON OttoP. Downing, Dallas, Tex. Application July 8, 1944, Serial No. 544,067

' GClaims. (01. 229-17) This invention relates to cartons especially'constructed for containing liquids and it refersparticularly to milk cartons.

The principal object of theinvention is to provide a carton formed of papencardboard and of other foldable material whose construction contributes to the strength and durability of the carton, to eliminate rupture resulting in leakage, and further, to provide adequate reinforcement and concealment of the discharge opening of the carton, with a view of sanitation, yet insuring ready access to the said discharge opening, which is equipped with a novel form of displaceable closure substituting for the primary closure or concealing element when the latter has been dispensed with. i

.Another object of the invention is to provide a liquid carton whose design lends to ease of manufacture and subsequent filling with merchandise, said design rendering it obligatory that the carton be filled in inverted position and further includes a bottom insertable subsequent to filling and so constructed as to afford dual reinforcing about the perimeter thereof where the carton is more likely to receive shocks. i g

With the foregoing objects as paramount, the invention has further reference to certain features of accomplishment which will become apparent as the description proceeds, takenin connection with the accompanying drawing wherein:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of the'top and bottom of a carton constructed according to the present invention, with the midsection. broken away.

Figure 2 is a similar perspective view of the top rotated approximately 90. ,v n Figure 3 is a fragmentary plan view lofthecarton in flat form as cut from sheet stock. V

Figure 4 is a plan view of the bottom, out from flat stock.

Figure 5 is a fragmentary view of the bottom of the folded carton, in vertical section, and

Figure 6 is a fragmentary view of one corner of the carton, showing the permanent closure for the discharge spout in dotted closed position and solid open position.

Continuing with a more detailed description of the drawing, reference is primarily made to Figure 3 in which numeral l0 denotes generally the blank, designed when folded, to form the carton of the present invention. This blank is cut in a straight line along the lower edge H and as scored for folding longitudinally along lines a, the line at the extreme left defining a longitudinal extension l2 for reinforcing the contiguous edges of the blank when folded.

Along the top of the blank l0, there is formed first, an overlying flap l3, scored diagonally along line b from corner to corner and along a shorter line c from the midway point of line b to the nearest corner. This flap l3, further has extensions l4 along two edges which, when folded, lie flush against the sides of the carton, as shown in Figure 1 in dotted lines. About midway between the ends of each extension H, a tab I5 is formed and inscribed with a word of instructions such as Lift as shown.

The underside of the flap H is coated with a suitable adhesive, except for that area within the dotted line next adjacent the tabs I5 and the dotted lines outlining a rectangle at one corner of the flap. It is preferred for reasons to be later expressed that these areas be free of adhesive.

One of the extensions 14 of the flap I3 is of greater length than the other to afiord a tab l6 which is adapted to be folded over one corner of the carton, to underlie the companion extension M, as exemplified in dotted lines in Figure 1.

v Next adjacent the flap I4 is a, shorter flap I1 and following this is a large flap l8, equal in size to the flap l3, except for the extensions l4. Ad-

jacent the flap I8 is a fourth flap I9 which confronts the flap IT in folded position of thecarton as shown in Figure 2.

I'he flap H! has in the corner thereof nearest the flap l9, a circular opening 20 which registers with a similar opening 2| in the flap l9. An examination of Figure 6 will revealthat the corresponding Opening 20 and 2| are so punched as to possess beveled edges to correspondingly receive the beveled edges of a disc 22 afllxed to the underside of a tab 23, the latter being secured, by means of a. staple 24 for rotation on the top of the flap .|8.- When slight pressure is imposed on the tab 23, the disc 22 is thrust into the openings 20 and 2| and may be displaced only by lifting up the pointed end of the tab 23. This arrangement affords an adequate temporary seal for the discharge opening of the carton and cannot be readily displaced, as by accidental means.

It is now clear that the uncemented area defined by the rectangular dotted lines on the flap i3 is adapted to overlie the tab 23 so that when the flap I3 is removed or partly so, the tab 23 will be free of any adhesive material likely to hinder ready operation thereof. Moreover, the tabs IS on the flap extensions l4 are uncemented so that they may be easily lifted to render the tearing of flap |3 easy, along the lines I) and c to gain access to the closure tab 23.

The carton in forming is first folded along lines a, whereupon the flaps l1 and I9 are turned indicated by reference character 25 in Figures 4 j and 5 and along each edge'there is defined an extension 26,'defined by a score d, followed *by a second and shorter extension 21, defined day -:a

score e. The extensions 26 are turned downward, in the upright position shown in'Figures 1 and 5, to lie flush against the inner surfaces of the carton walls, and the extensions 27 are turned upwardly to lie against the iO'UtGI' WEH I surfaces of thersarton. Th us -thes'kirtof the :carton is disposed between parallel extensions 26 and 21. Staples '28 are inserted at spaced points along the extensions fli and '2?! to penetna te both the extensions and "the of the carton.

After *amx'ing the bottom the-canton, the latter is again immersed "in 'wax and transported to cold storage.

' Manfestly, the construction shown and described is capable of some modification and such modification as may be construed toiall within thescope and meaning df appended claims is also considered 110 within *the spirit and intent of the invention.

"Whatis claimed 7 1. 'A l-iquid carton comprisin-gahlarik four ioldable sections, one having an extension *along one edg e overlapping the next adj acen-t section in folded ml-ationship, said section having an obli uelypeflorated overly 'm g ffla-p provided with tabbed extensions along two "edges thereof, half "fia'ps carried by the second and fourth of said sections, a flap on the tlrird-o'fea id sec a tab pivoted to said full flap for rotation thereon and having a protuberance conformably receivable in said holes, and means for effecting adherence of preselected areas of said overlying flap and its extensions to companion flaps and walls respectively.

3. A milk carton comprising a four walled body, the first and third wall having full flaps and the second and fourth wall having half flaps, said third and fourth fiapsrhaving corresponding discharge openings in their respective corners provided with tapered walls, a conformably tapered closure for said openings hingedly secured to said third *fiap, tear-away extensions along at least .two'edges .of the overlying first flap, said latter flap also having a. row of perforations extending mne oomer to the other and from another comer-to the midsection of said first perforations, means for securing said extensions and first flap at selected :areas (to corresponding parts of said carton and-ta mx'coating on therinner :and outer surfaces of said carton.

'51. ;A cardboandmilk canton jhaving flaps .:fo'ldable nneuponthe other to close one ,endthereof, theatwo lowermost fiapszhaving corresponding, tapered walled holes in one corner thereof, a "pivoted and conformable for said holes, the

V unner-most of said naps havingaamow of perforationsailapted tonnderlie said first nap and hav ing 'a tapered alled holein one corner tn' register with a similar hole in the corner of the flap of said fourth section, a pivoted tab having -a--disc thereon shaped *to be correspondingly reu,

ceiva ble in said holes and I carton.

A liquid carton having walls 'of waxed paper, i

an obliquely V perforated overlying flap on one or said walls, extensions along "-two edges of said flap adapted to overlie the ends of correspond n walls, each havi-ng' tear-away tabs in ternied iajte their ends, half flaps on the second fourth walls, a full nap on ft-he th'-ird wall having a tapered walled "hole in one'corner theredf in register a holein the flap or said fourth wall,

tinnsi-fmm one Inc the other and from another corner to anoint midway-between the ends inf-said mow iflf perforations, l-extensions along-two :sides Loft-said gperfioratedzflap having tabs to efiect removal of :the merfiorated part of said flap to reveal said :pivcted closure, :m-eanssecuring preselected areas of said perforated flapandsitswexitensiornsrto corresponding-parts of said carton and a coating ovzer the inside and outside of'said scan-ton.

35, 3516321313011 formilksand D17h813'1i61flid5 comprising walls tflaps formed :on one end and .foldaible one upon the other, the two lowermost :flaps havsing :tapered holes in {one :corner in regaster, zone' with ithe other, a pivoted closure conformably disposed insaid fholes, extensions along edges ifif the. overlying .flap adapted to be ceoriented to ithewalls of zsaidzoarton except for an intermediate space, :tabs carried by said :exten- 'sions at said moemented fpoints corefir ecti-ng removal of a qaortioni of said overlying flap, and a i011 ithe inner and outer surfaces of isaidmavttm.

16; 2A milk marten described in claim 5, ther defined in that one of the edge extensions of theoverlying fiap is of lgreater length-than the other to define a tab adapted-toemlcraceacorner of :the 'cantcnand underlie the companion extension in folded relationship.

P. DOWNING. 

